2026 Midterms · U.S. Senate · Florida Unrated
Florida — U.S. Senate (special)
The 2026 Florida U.S. Senate special election features appointed Republican incumbent Ashley B. Moody facing Democratic nominee Angela Nixon to fill the remainder of the term vacated by Marco Rubio following his confirmation as U.S. Secretary of State. The race hinges on stark economic and ideological contrasts, with Nixon running on a progressive platform that emphasizes a 5% wealth tax, Medicare for All, and universal childcare, while Moody campaigns on an 'America First' platform centered on strict border enforcement, law and order, and free-market capitalism. No official race rating from major forecasters is cited in the provided sources.
The pulse
updated Sep 16Economy and Cost of Living
high salienceNixon proposes a 5% wealth tax on billionaires and direct household relief to combat corporate greed, whereas Moody supports free-market capitalism, reducing government waste, and tax deductions such as exempting tips from taxation.
Democratic Angela Nixon
Supports wealth tax and price controls
Nixon campaigns on a 'Working Families Guarantee' focused on tackling inflation and corporate greed by taxing billionaires and reducing everyday costs. She advocates a 5% annual wealth tax on billionaires, capping prescription drug costs, banning corporate price gouging, and providing direct household relief.
- Proposes a 5% annual wealth tax on net worth above $1 billion through the Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act.
- Advocates for direct cash relief payments to households earning under $150,000 annually.
- Supports taxing capital gains at the same rate as wage income and closing corporate tax loopholes.
“Floridians are being crushed by an affordability crisis created by greed and corruption.”
“What we can’t afford is letting the richest people in the country keep paying less in taxes than a nurse or a line cook.”
Republican Ashley B. Moody
Supports tax relief and free markets
Moody supports free-market principles, tax cuts, and reducing government regulation and waste to foster economic growth. In the U.S. Senate, she supported major reconciliation legislation addressing tax policy and tax deductions for service workers.
- Voted Yea on H.R.1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act), which addressed federal tax policy and increased the debt limit.
- Voted Yea on S.129 (No Tax on Tips Act) to create a tax deduction up to $25,000 for tips.
- Advocates for reducing government waste and fostering a competitive free marketplace.
“Reducing government waste by constantly exploring innovative ways to reduce costs to taxpayers while reducing crime.”
Healthcare
high salienceNixon advocates for a single-payer Medicare for All system and complete medical debt cancellation, while Moody voted against extending federal health insurance premium tax credits and Medicaid funding.
Democratic Angela Nixon
Supports Medicare for All
Nixon advocates for a single-payer Medicare for All system that covers all Americans with no premiums, deductibles, or copays. Her platform includes full coverage for vision, dental, mental health, and prescription drugs, alongside canceling all existing medical debt.
- Advocates for Medicare for All providing universal, comprehensive healthcare free at the point of service.
- Supports the Medical Debt Cancellation Act to eliminate existing medical debt and wipe it from credit reports.
- Calls for capping prescription drug prices and guaranteeing federally mandated paid family and medical leave.
“The United States is the richest country on earth but doesn’t guarantee healthcare to all its people.”
“No one in the richest country in the world should go bankrupt because they need medical care”
Republican Ashley B. Moody
Opposes federal health subsidies expansion
Moody opposes expanding federal health insurance subsidies and government-run health programs. As attorney general and senator, she focused on addressing public health crises like the opioid epidemic through law enforcement and targeted state initiatives.
- Voted Nay on S.2882, which would have permanently extended expanded premium tax credits for health insurance and increased Medicaid funding.
- Assigned to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and its Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security.
- Supported data-driven state strategies to combat the opioid epidemic.
“Coordinating a data-based attack on the opioid epidemic gripping our state.”
Immigration and Border Security
high salienceNixon calls for abolishing ICE, halting deportations, and creating a path to citizenship, whereas Moody advocates for strict border enforcement and America First immigration policies.
Democratic Angela Nixon
Supports pathway to citizenship and immigration reform
Nixon calls for dismantling mass deportation systems, abolishing ICE, and establishing a swift pathway to citizenship for undocumented residents and Dreamers. She opposes border enforcement surge tactics and executive restrictions on birthright citizenship.
- Proposes abolishing ICE and rebuilding civilian-led immigration enforcement focused on due process.
- Calls for a swift path to citizenship for Dreamers and undocumented residents alongside a moratorium on deportations.
- Condemned executive orders attempting to restrict birthright citizenship.
“I don’t believe any person is illegal, and I don’t believe human beings should be treated as commodities in a system built to punish rather than to heal.”
Republican Ashley B. Moody
Supports strict border enforcement
Moody emphasizes strict enforcement of immigration laws and border security as vital components of national sovereignty and the rule of law. She serves on Senate committees directly overseeing border management and security.
- Assigned to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration and the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border Management.
- Champions strict border enforcement and stopping criminal organizations and illegal entry.
- Endorses America First policies prioritizing national sovereignty and law enforcement.
“Ashley is dedicated to America First policies that promote law and order, economic prosperity, and American sovereignty.”
“Enforcing our laws, securing our borders, and eliminating gangs and criminal organizations.”
Democracy, Government Reform, and Elections
medium salienceNixon advocates for overturning Citizens United, capping super PAC contributions, and expanding federal voting access, while Moody focuses on originalist judicial philosophy and defending traditional constitutional separation of powers.
Democratic Angela Nixon
Supports campaign finance reform and voting expansion
Nixon campaigns on stripping big money from politics, overturning Citizens United, abolishing super PACs, and expanding voting rights. Her platform also includes banning stock trading by members of Congress, Supreme Court term limits, and D.C. statehood.
- Supports the Abolish Super PACs Act to cap super PAC contributions at $5,000 and overturn Citizens United.
- Advocates for banning members of Congress from trading individual stock and implementing Supreme Court term limits and ethics rules.
- Proposes restoring the Voting Rights Act, automatic voter registration, and national holiday status for Election Day.
“When a handful of billionaires can spend hundreds of millions of dollars to influence an election and the average person gets one vote, that’s not a democracy for the many, but a corrupt government working for a few.”
Republican Ashley B. Moody
Supports constitutional originalism and judicial restraint
Moody emphasizes strict adherence to the U.S. Constitution, originalism, and judicial restraint. She opposes what she characterizes as activist judges and political overreach into constitutional protections.
- Serves on the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
- Pledges to defend the separation of powers and resist judicial activism.
- Promotes strict adherence to originalist constitutional protections.
“Strictly adhering to the protections of our Constitution and the fundamental rights that make our country strong.”
“I will ardently defend against politicians that violate our separation of powers and fight against activist judges.”
Law Enforcement and Public Safety
medium salienceNixon supports demilitarizing police and ending mass incarceration in favor of community safety investments, whereas Moody emphasizes strong law enforcement backing and aggressive prosecution of criminals.
Democratic Angela Nixon
Supports demilitarizing police and ending mass incarceration
Nixon advocates for demilitarizing law enforcement, ending mass incarceration, and redirecting funding into community-based crisis response and violence prevention. She also supports federal decriminalization of marijuana and restoring voting rights for individuals with felony convictions.
- Calls for demilitarizing police departments and expanding community-based public safety and crisis intervention programs.
- Advocates for federal decriminalization of marijuana and ending for-profit prisons.
- Supports full re-enfranchisement for individuals with felony convictions.
“Real safety comes from good jobs, strong schools, affordable housing, and healthcare for all — not from more cameras, more cages, and more agents tearing families apart.”
Republican Ashley B. Moody
Supports strong law enforcement backing
Moody builds her platform around law and order, vigorously prosecuting violent crime, and providing full support and resources to law enforcement officers. She is endorsed by major police associations across Florida.
- Endorsed by the Florida Fraternal Order of Police and Florida Police Chiefs Association.
- Pledges full support, tools, and training for law enforcement personnel.
- Advocates for aggressive prosecution of violent criminals, human traffickers, and drug dealers.
“As the wife of a federal law enforcement officer, I will ensure law enforcement personnel have the tools, training, and support they need to do their jobs.”
Foreign Policy and Defense
medium salienceNixon advocates for ending foreign military aid and redirecting spending to domestic needs, while Moody voted for the National Defense Authorization Act to maintain robust military funding.
Democratic Angela Nixon
Supports diplomacy, reducing foreign military spending
Nixon advocates for an American foreign policy grounded in diplomacy, human rights, and restraint, calling for an end to overseas military conflicts and foreign aid to ongoing wars. She supports reallocating defense spending to domestic social programs and strengthening UN multilateral bodies.
- Calls for an end to U.S. military involvement in Iran and ending unconditional military aid to Israel/Palestine.
- Advocates for surging humanitarian aid into Gaza and supporting a lasting ceasefire and Palestinian self-determination.
- Supports restoring U.S. participation and funding for UN agencies like the WHO and UN Human Rights Council.
“Angie believes American foreign policy should reflect the values of everyday Americans, not the interests of defense contractors and foreign lobbies.”
Republican Ashley B. Moody
Supports strong national defense funding
Moody supports robust military funding and maintaining a strong national defense posture. In the Senate, she voted to pass the annual defense authorization bill setting national defense priorities.
- Voted Yea on S.2296, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026.
- Backs President Trump's America First agenda emphasizing national strength and sovereignty.
“Ashley is dedicated to America First policies that promote law and order, economic prosperity, and American sovereignty.”
Technology, AI, and Surveillance
medium salienceNixon proposes aggressive federal safety regulations on AI developers and strict limits on law enforcement surveillance data, while Moody supported creating a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins.
Democratic Angela Nixon
Supports strict AI regulation and surveillance privacy
Nixon proposes strict federal guardrails on artificial intelligence, including energy limits on data centers, chatbot safety requirements, and bans on medical impersonation. She also seeks to restrict automated license plate readers and warrantless surveillance data access.
- Calls for mandatory safety protocols for AI chatbots, independent testing before deployment to children, and bans on AI impersonating licensed professionals.
- Advocates for requiring warrants to access surveillance data like ALPRs and banning data sharing with federal immigration authorities.
- Supports making tech companies pay for their own energy/water usage rather than passing costs to ratepayers.
“AI companies are rushing products to market that millions now use every day — — with little to no safety testing and no accountability when things go wrong.”
Republican Ashley B. Moody
Supports digital asset regulation
Moody engages on technology and consumer policy through her Senate committee assignments and voted for federal legislation establishing a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins.
- Voted Yea on S.1582 (GENIUS Act), creating a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins.
- Assigned to Senate Judiciary Subcommittees on Privacy, Technology, and the Law; Intellectual Property; and Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights.
Abortion and Reproductive Rights
medium salienceNixon advocates for federal protections for abortion, contraception, and IVF, while Moody maintains a 100% pro-life stance opposing abortion access.
Democratic Angela Nixon
Supports federal abortion rights and IVF protections
Nixon supports codifying federal reproductive rights, including abortion access, contraception, and in vitro fertilization (IVF), free from political interference. She integrates reproductive healthcare into her broader Medicare for All platform.
- Supports guaranteeing the right to abortion, contraception, and IVF nationwide.
- Includes reproductive and maternity care as fully covered components under Medicare for All.
“Protecting reproductive freedom, including the right to abortion, contraception, and IVF, free from political interference.”
Republican Ashley B. Moody
Opposes abortion, pro-life stance
Moody is an outspoken opponent of abortion, describing herself as 100% pro-life and committed to protecting the rights of the unborn. Her stance has been a core pillar of her campaign platforms.
- Identifies as 100% Pro-Life in her official campaign positions.
- Advocates for protecting the legal rights of unborn children.
“Protecting the rights of every Floridian includes the rights of the unborn - Ashley Moody is 100% Pro-Life.”
Education and Student Loans
medium salienceNixon advocates for canceling student debt and establishing tuition-free public college, whereas Moody serves on the Senate Education subcommittee without endorsing debt cancellation.
Democratic Angela Nixon
Supports tuition-free public college and debt relief
Nixon calls for making public higher education tuition-free, canceling all federal student loan debt, and fully funding K-12 public schools. She also advocates for higher teacher pay and universal free school meals.
- Supports tuition-free public college and trade schools alongside canceling existing student debt.
- Advocates for full funding for K-12 public education and increasing teacher wages.
- Proposes universal school meal programs for all students.
“A degree that was once a ticket to the middle class has become a financial trap for millions of families”
Republican Ashley B. Moody
Supports education oversight
Moody addresses education policy primarily through her committee assignments overseeing education and family policy in the U.S. Senate.
- Assigned to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and its Subcommittee on Education and the American Family Members.
Housing and Property Insurance
high salienceDemocratic Angela Nixon
Supports rent control and federal insurance backstop
Nixon views housing as a human right and proposes federal rent stabilization, eviction moratoriums, and massive public investment in affordable housing. To address Florida's property insurance crisis, she advocates for federal reinsurance backstops and regulations on Wall Street landlords.
- Proposes a national rent freeze, moratorium on evictions, and national rent stabilization standards.
- Calls for federal action on property insurance, including reinsurance backstops and disaster resilience funding.
- Advocates for restricting Wall Street speculators and corporate landlords from buying single-family homes.
“Florida homeowners now pay some of the highest insurance premiums in the nation — often as high as $10,000 a year — nearly three to four times the national average.”
“housing is the foundation of stability.”
Climate Change and Energy
medium salienceDemocratic Angela Nixon
Supports clean energy transition and polluter accountability
Nixon advocates for a rapid, union-built transition to 100% renewable energy, ending fossil fuel subsidies, and making polluters pay for climate damage. She also proposes removing FEMA from the Department of Homeland Security and securing federal disaster resilience funding.
- Advocates for a union-built transition to solar, wind, and modernized clean electric grids.
- Calls for ending taxpayer subsidies to fossil fuel companies and taxing polluters for environmental damage.
- Proposes moving FEMA out of the Department of Homeland Security and expanding disaster hardening grants for homes.
“Angie rejects the false choice between good jobs and a livable planet.”
Child Care and Paid Family Leave
medium salienceDemocratic Angela Nixon
Supports universal childcare and paid leave
Nixon proposes free universal childcare and pre-K for all families, capping costs so no family pays more than a small fraction of their income. She also supports guaranteed paid family and sick leave for all American workers.
- Proposes universal, high-quality childcare and pre-K with income-capped family costs.
- Supports guaranteed paid family and medical leave mandated by federal law.
- Calls for living wages for early childhood educators.
“I will fight to make childcare affordable and accessible because that is an investment in our next generation and has incredibly strong economic returns for parents and local economies.”
Polls 5
updated Sep 16Source: RealClearPolling · Moody vs. Vindman ↗ · Moody vs. Nixon ↗
| Pollster | Date | Sample | Result | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Univ. of North Florida | Jul 17 | 848 LV | Moody 50% / Nixon 42% | Moody +8.0 |
| Univ. of North Florida | Jul 17 | 848 LV | Moody 50% / Vindman 40% | Moody +10.0 |
| Echelon Insights | Apr 9 | 406 LV | Moody 50% / Vindman 43% | Moody +7.0 |
| Emerson | Mar 31 | 1125 LV | Moody 47% / Nixon 36% | Moody +11.0 |
| Emerson | Mar 31 | 1125 LV | Moody 46% / Vindman 38% | Moody +8.0 |
Prediction markets 6
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